Feel free to skip this one if you find plot stuff, a psychopath, that part where Shao Kahn kills Kung Lao, that part where Liu Kang kills Shao Kahn, or MK violence in general, to be terribly upsetting. (No sex here.)
(To note: obviously, my interpretation of Mileena is that she does not truly care for Shao Kahn other than as advancement opportunity.)
(For those of you who read my stuff primarily for the lovely sequences of boning, have no fear; Mileena will be back at it in the next part!)
Part 3: "Daddy Issues"
Mileena stood sullenly as the unforgiving Outworld sun shown harshly down on the Coliseum sands. She was still humiliated and shamed by her failure to capture Jade. Shao Kahn's anger was the most understatedly horrifying thing that Mileena had yet encountered. She shivered, even in the burning mid-afternoon air, as she recalled the way he had told her 'you have failed me'. Luckily, she had been at least able to repeat the Earthrealmers plans, which pleased Shao Kahn and preserved at least a shred of her dignity. Now, the princess stood by her father's throne in attendance for the second meeting of the Outworld Mortal Kombat Tournament.
She was told that first part had taken place in the morning, before she existed.
Shao Khan announced, "In the next kombat, Smoke will face Ermac!"
Hearing an unfamiliar name, Mileena looked up; she recognized grey-clad 'Smoke' as the ninja who fought Jade on the beach while she herself had been struggling to hide her devastated body amidst cadavers. Breathing in deeply through her nose, she smelled the vaguest hint of burning, and realized with a start that it was the scent of the strange man. Seeing him clearly now, Mileena realized that he had likely kept Jade from dealing the killing blow to her. She decided that she liked this Smoke.
Her attention shifted to Smoke's opponent, Shao Kahn's construct made from the souls of the conquered Edenia realm. Mileena realized with a degree of fascination that Ermac was somewhat like herself, having been created for Shao Kahn and being at least partially of Edenia. Scouring her mind for more information on the intriguing 'man', the princess was somewhat delighted to find that he, like she, had been created only recently. He's like my older brother, Mileena thought with some satisfaction. She smiled triumphantly, and I'm the more important one.
The two men faced each other in the arena before Shao Kahn's throne, next to which Mileena stood, and settled into fighting stances. A thrill ran through her body as she realized that she was about to watch her first official Mortal Kombat match. Mileena licked her sharp teeth.
She hoped that she would get to see one of them die.
"Begin!" commanded the Emperor.
The ninja and construct sized each other up for only a moment before they fought. Faintly moaning humanoid shapes of green energy began to drift around Ermac and he levitated into the air; visible grey-white smoke seemed to emit from the Earthrealm ninja's skin. They moved with mesmerizing finesse as they began to duel. Smoke landed the first blow, driving a fist so hard into Ermac's shoulder that Mileena could hear the bones crack. He staggered back. Her breath quickened in excitement and she watched intently.
Ermac reached up with his good hand and swirling green magic flared in his fist. The emerald soul energy flared also around Smoke's neck; he was lifted into the air and then driven down forcefully onto the arena floor. Brushing sand out of his eyes, Smoke looked up as Ermac advanced, the wraith drawing back the arm that had been broken to deal a vicious blow.
Just before Ermac reached him, Smoke dematerialized into the grey air of his namesake and the Outworld kombatant's strike passed through the cloud harmlessly. The cloud blew backward from it's attacker and solidified into the grey-clad man again. Mileena had not been able to watch him when he fought Jade, but now she had the suspicion that Smoke was not quite as human as he had first appeared. The opponents circled each other, each analyzing and looking for an opening.
Although he was formidable and agile, Smoke began to flag before Ermac. A twinge in her side reminded Mileena that, like she, the ninja had recently fought and been beaten by Jade. Mileena was fully healed, but her energy was still sapped by her encounter with the fierce handmaiden. Smoke likely was suffering the same residual fatigue and Ermac had begun the fight at full strength. The Edenian wraith soon caught Smoke in a vortex of souls and clenched one glowing fist; Mileena could perceive the cracking of bones from where she stood as the Earthrealm kombatant was lifted into the air and thrown against the stone side of the arena. His body crashed to the ground.
Smoke tried to get up, but fell; Ermac glided over him, his souls glowing and swirling dangerously. Mileena leaned hungrily forward, eager to witness her first murder, but Ermac hesitated and looked to Shao Kahn, watching calmly from his throne. It was the Emperor's prerogative whether the defeated kombatant died; Mileena stared at him, silently willing him to order the Earthrealmer's execution. The massive ruler of Outworld imperiously ignored his daughter, merely announcing, "The victor is Ermac!"
Furiously disappointed, Mileena almost spoke out in protest, but remembered her place. She was sure that Shao Kahn had spared Smoke to spite her, but she glared instead at the Earthrealm thunder god as he helped the defeated fighter leave the arena.
Sulking, Mileena barely watched the next few matches. Ermac defeated Johnny Cage; the actor was allowed to live. Strangely, Ermac was then withdrawn from the tournament by order of Shao Kahn. Mileena couldn't understand why and was further frustrated when no explanation was offered. Two more Earthrealm kombatants arrived, the Shaolin. One of them, known as Kung Lao, fought both Shang Tsung and Quan Chi together. The defeated sorcerers got to live, too. In the next match, the same Shaolin was matched against Kintaro and beat him. And of course he is not going to die either, Mileena scowled petulantly, What is the point if nobody gets killed? It was so irritating to her that she almost didn't notice Shao Kahn rise from his throne.
She watched with growing interest as the Emperor approached behind the victorious Kung Lao. She saw her father raise his hands as he came close to the oblivious Earthrealmer; she held her breath in anticipation. When Mileena heard the loud snap of Kung Lao's neck breaking like a twig, she squealed and clapped her hands in delight.
"Finally!" she laughed aloud as somebody cried out, "NO!"
Entranced, the princess of Outworld watched the twitching of the dead body in the sand at the feet of the Emperor. It was the first time she ever watched a person die. An intoxicating thrill ran through her entire body.
"I will strip the flesh from your bones!" lightning blazed in the Earthrealm god's eyes and crackled in the air around him in rage.
The Outworld crowd that watched from the Coliseum seats above roared in deafening approval as Shao Kahn stood grandly over the fresh corpse. Mileena licked her teeth hungrily and grinned.
Suddenly, the other Shao Lin warrior snarled and launched himself at the Emperor, tackling the much larger man to the blood-spattered sand. Mileena squeaked in excitement as Shao Kahn and this fool, this Liu Kang, grappled in the dust. Her father kicked the Earthrealmer back and rose to his feet, laughing mockingly.
"Witless boy," the Emperor growled in amusement, "do you know who I am?"
Emotion was thick in Liu Kang's voice as he stood over the broken body of his fallen comrade and answered, "The murderer of my friend!"
"Aww!" Mileena exclaimed fancifully to herself, tilting her head and putting her clasped hands to her chest, "They were best friends!"
"I am Shao Kahn! Konqueror of worlds!" her father was roaring proudly, "You will taste no victory!"
"You will taste your own blood!" snarled the Shaolin that was still alive.
I am hungry, Mileena realized, then mused to herself as Liu Kang wrathfully charged the Emperor of Outworld, "And I do not think I have ever eaten!" She wondered absently if food was just like what she already expected it to be. What do I eat? she thought in mild consternation, licking the roof of her mouth in thought, Meat, perhaps? That is what the other Tarkata eat. But I'm part Edenian too; what do they eat? Cakes?
Is that Liu Kang beating father?
Mileena's attention snapped back and she focused on the Mortal Kombat in front of her. She was shocked to see that Shao Kahn was indeed staggered and bleeding. He was facing away from her, but she could see where his helmet had been broken, revealing torn skin and bloody bone. That and other various wounds were not healing; although Liu Kang also had numerous open wounds, he had somehow managed to overcome the Emperor's kombat fortitude. As she watched, the muscular Shaolin dealt a kick like a battering ram to Shao Kahn's stomach. The Konqueror of Worlds collapsed to his hands and knees, coughing raggedly.
His true daughter tilted her head slightly as she looked at him, now engrossed in the entertaining spectacle taking place before her.
"On your feet!" demanded Liu Kang, stalking around the fallen Emperor.
Shao Kahn slowly rose to face him, swaying and grunting in pain. As she eyed his injuries appraisingly, Mileena was impressed that her father was able to get up at all. Turning her head slightly to regard the wrathful champion, the new princess found herself to be smiling.
Fiery light focused, almost blindingly bright, around Liu Kang's raised fist as he declared, "For Kung Lao, the Shaolin, and Earthrealm!"
Kill. Kill!
Time seemed to slow as the smaller man charged Shao Kahn, blazing fist striking forward. Breathlessly, Mileena saw the blow make contact and shatter the armored chest-piece. Without slowing, the fist sunk into the Emperor's heaving chest. Mileena's eyes widened as Liu Kang's arm burst out of her father's back in an explosion of gore and fire.
She stood as still as stone, watching as the Shaolin wrenched his fist out, his whole arm soaked with steaming blood. Shao Kahn dropped to his knees. To Mileena's surprise, he was still somehow conscious; she could clearly see the shock and confusion on his face. She wondered how much pain he was in. For a moment, it looked like he was trying to say something, but only blood poured from his lips and the Emperor's powerful body impacted the arena sand, becoming the center of a widening red circle.
"I cannot believe..." Mileena looked over the empty throne to see Shang Tsung in uncomprehending shock as he said, "Earthrealm has won."
Behind him, Quan Chi smirked.
Mileena grinned too.
Although the true princess of Outworld did not fully understand what was happening, the throne was empty.
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